Universal Step Flashing Channel

ABSTRACT

A system for protecting walls/roofs from water uses a detachable flashing channel and a step flashing unit. The detachable flashing unit is a J shape structure which facilitates the protection of walls from rain water and the step flashing unit is a L shape structure also facilitating the protection of roofs from rain water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flashing system for protectingwalls/roofs from water. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a flashing system for protecting walls/roofs from water, including achannel and step flashing unit.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Those involved in construction regularly deal with interfaces betweenadjacent structures. Those adjacent structures may be fabricated of thesame or dissimilar materials. Particularly for external surfaces, thoseinterfaces must be sealed to protect against environmental conditions.Examples of such interfaces include, but are not limited to,chimney-to-roofing interfaces and roofing-to-fascia interfaces, to namejust two examples. Of course, there are many other structural interfacesthat must be enclosed in some manner. The problem of how to seal andmake waterproof or water resistant vertical and horizontal buildingsurfaces is as old as the building trades. In its most rudimentaryfashions, this problem was solved by the blending and sealing of thevertical and horizontal surfaces with sheet metal such as sheet copper,aluminum or lead. The sealing of the sheet metal component to therespective surfaces was effected with a mastic such as tar. This methodof sealing building surfaces is still commonly used.

Presently, many buildings have multiple roof levels wherein the end ofone of the roof decks terminates and abuts against a side wall of thebuilding. In building the roofing system for such a configuration, asection of flashing runs along the entire length of the roof deck sidewall interface. The purpose of the flashing, which is an angled sheetmember of monolithic construction, is to help seal the juncture of theroofing deck with that of the side wall in order to prevent water fromentering the building at this juncture.

In the past few decades, a new form of building renewal has come intowidespread use, namely the trade of applying interlocking siding to thevertical surfaces of buildings in order to give these surfaces a newappearance. In this regard, the application of interlocking panels ofvinyl and aluminum siding to older structures has become quite common.Since this siding is often applied to older structures, a problem hasarisen as to how to flash the vertical siding to the horizontal roofingsurfaces. The situation is further complicated by the fact that theroofing on the structure is likewise often replaced at intervals offifteen to twenty-five years. With a life expectancy of a structure ofone hundred years, multiple applications of roofing are possible.

Furthermore, as multiple layers of roofing are applied, the thicknessand the weight of the roofing increases. Because of the weight increase,building codes often only permit three re-roofings to occur before allthe roofing must be removed prior to the application of new roofing. Theold roofing must be removed because of its weight in order to preventstructural failure of the building. That is, building codes oftenpermit, for example, a homeowner to have his house re-roofed three timesbefore he must remove all roofing material. In a prior type of systemfor protecting walls/roofs from water either the installation process istoo complex or the system for protecting walls/roofs from water involvesonly one member. In accordance with this invention, when a new roof isapplied to a structure which has been previously sided with vinyl oraluminum siding, the roofer can remove the flashing cover and replace itwith a flashing cover of a different depth so as to fill in any gapswhich are created as a result of the removal of multiple layers of oldroofing. Further, the new roof can be easily reflashed.

The prior art has addressed many forms of roof flashing as isillustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,511 assigned to Kenergy EnterprisesLimited Partnership which discloses a plastic skylight having a centraldome and a pair of standing seam edges suitable for installation inmetal standing seam roofs and shingled roofs without a curb. Thestanding seam edges are joined to adjacent metal standing seams with thesame covered by battens. The other edges of the skylight form flatflanges overlapping adjacent metal panels. When used on a shingled roof,step flashings and anchor clips are fastened to the plastic standingseams. The skylights may be clustered to form sunroofs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,287 assigned to The Bilco Company shows a flashingfor sealing a waterproof roofing membrane to a vertical wall such as aparapet wall around the roof, including an elongated mounting flange forconnection to the wall, a top flange and wall flange which define afiller channel with the vertical wall. An elongated elastromeric fillerpiece is adapted to fit closely within the filler channel with anoverlapped portion of the roofing membrane for a temporary adjustablehold on the roofing membrane. A set of finger like tabs preferablypunched out of the wall flange may be bent into the filler channelbeneath the membrane and filler piece to hold it securely therein.Alternative embodiments for use with pre-existing walls and forattachment to a brick and mortar wall at the time of construction areshown, as are corner pieces for sealing inside and outside corners.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,416 assigned to Plastic Components, Inc. shows animproved flashing system for exterior doors and windows. The systemcomprises a header, right and left hand vertical drainage channels andright and left hand corner sections which join the header to thevertical channels on either side of the door or window. The header isdesigned to provide normal protection for the top of the door or windowfrom water infiltration and also provides at the rear thereof a dam andweep holes for removal of any rainwater which may infiltrate between theflashing and applied siding. The system design provides a continuouschannel to conduct any infiltrating water from the header via the cornersections to the vertical channels wherefrom it drains downward and isharmlessly removed at the base of the window or door.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,522 issued to Michael Vagedes shows a channel forlapped siding includes an elongated nailing strip and an abutment stripwith an upper cover strip. This provides a generally C-shapedcross-section. Inside the channel is a rectangular tab that extends atan angle away from the nailing strip up to the cover strip. The channelis nailed to a building. Lapped siding is also nailed to the buildingwith edges of the siding positioned in the channel. The edge of thesiding is slit horizontally to allow the tab to intersect the edge ofthe siding. Any water that gets into the channel will run along this tabaway from the building wall to an exterior surface of the siding. Thiskeeps the water from flowing behind the siding.

U.S. Patent Application No. US 20040088927 published by Michael Morphetshows a flashing system, a soaker channel has a drainage groove and hasan upstanding wall, which is adapted to be overlaid by a lower edge of aflashing element. A lower wall of the drainage groove slopes downwardly,away from the upstanding wall, toward another upstanding wall, which isspaced from the upstanding wall adapted to be overlaid by a lower edgeof a flashing element and which has a returned limb closing off thesoaker channel partially. The soaker channel has a rib, which projectsdownwardly from the lower wall of the drainage channel, near theupstanding wall adapted to be overlaid by a lower edge of a flashingelement.

U.S. Patent Application No. US 20050086873 published by Manuel Maresshows a flanged counter flashing unit, flashing system and method isdescribed for weather proofing the juncture of a brick wall overlying avertical parapet wall and the edge of a sloped roof. The one-piececounter flashing unit of the flashing system has a vertical slit intowhich is securely fitted the low upstanding side of a J-Channel flashingpositioned at the juncture and the vertical leaf member of an L-shapedroof flashing that is flush with the outer face of the upstanding lowside of the J-Channel flashing, including a flange section of thecounter flashing unit that extends laterally from the top edge of thecounter flashing apron and partially over the J-Channel and an apronadapted for overlying the vertical leaf member of the L-shaped flashing.The J-Channel flashing, L-shaped flashing and flanged counter flashingare included in the flashing system of the present invention. Accordingto the method of the present invention, when the flashing system ispositioned at the juncture, the brick wall is constructed from withinthe J-channel so that the counter flashing flange is included in thebrick wall. This method eliminates the need for a separate method stepof attaching counter flashing to the brick wall at an angle to thehorizontal plane of the brick wall after its construction by means of agouge cut across the brick wall for that purpose.

Further, none of this prior art suggests the present inventivecombination of component elements arranged and configured for theefficient solution of this problem as disclosed and claimed herein.Prior devices do not provide the benefits of the present invention whichachieves its intended purposes, objectives and advantages over the priorart devices through a new, useful and unobvious combination of componentelements, through no increase in the number of functioning parts, at aminimum cost and through the utilization of only readily availablematerials and conventional components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A protective building flashing system comprising a detachable flashingchannel made of aluminium and a metallic step flashing unit isdisclosed. The detachable flashing unit includes a fastening section, acurved section and an elongated flat section connected in a manner thatthe curved section is capable of flashing rain water and prevents thedirect contact of rain water to the walls and roofs of buildings. Thestep flashing unit claimed is L shaped and includes a horizontal surfaceand a vertical surface wherein the step flashing unit is capable of freemovement below the elongated flat section of the detachable flashingchannel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system forpreventing the insertion of water at the intersection of a wall androof.

Each intent of the present invention provides an advantage of easyinstallation of the detachable flashing channel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system foreasy replacement of the old step flashing unit.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe detailed description which follows, and in part will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognizedby practicing the invention as described herein, including the detaileddescription which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a system for protecting walls/roofsfrom water in an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the side view of a system for protecting walls/roofs fromwater in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the figures, andin particular FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the system 10 forprotecting walls/roofs from water in accordance with the presentinvention. Turning now to FIG. 1 there is shown a prospective view of asystem 10 for protecting walls/roofs from water including a detachableflashing channel 12 attached to a wall 11 and a step flashing unit 16located at intersection of the roof 14 and the wall 11. The detachableflashing channel 12 includes a fastening section 18, flat section 20,curved section 22 and an elongated flat section 24. The fasteningsection 18 further includes a plurality of holes 26 for attaching thedetachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11. The elongated flatsection 24 further includes a first end 28 and a second end 30. Furtherthe step flashing unit 16 includes a vertical surface 32 and ahorizontal surface 34.

Turning now to FIG. 2 there is shown a side view of the system 10 forprotecting walls/roofs, including the detachable flashing channel 12attached to the wall 11 and the step flashing unit 16 located atintersection of the roof 14 and the wall 11. The detachable flashingchannel 12 includes the fastening section 18, the flat section 20, thecurved section 22 and the elongated flat section 24. The fasteningsection 18 further includes means 36 for attaching the detachableflashing channel 12 to the wall 11. In summary, the present inventiongenerally provides a system 10 for protecting walls/roofs from water,including but no limited to the detachable flashing channel 12 attachedto the wall 11 and the step flashing unit 16 located at intersection ofthe roof 14 and wall 11. More particularly and in one preferredembodiment, the system 10 for protecting walls/roofs from water includesa J shape detachable flashing channel 12 mounted on the wall 11 and an Lshape step flashing unit 16 located at an intersection of the roof 14and wall 11.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a system 10 for protecting walls/roofs from water, includingthe detachable flashing channel 12 attached to the wall 11 and the stepflashing unit 16 located at an intersection of the roof 14 and wall 11.The detachable flashing channel 12 comprises a fastening section 18,flat section 20, curved section 22 and an elongated flat section 24. Thefastening section 18 further includes a plurality of holes 26 forattaching the detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11 and themeans for attaching 36 the detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11through the holes 26 located at the fastening section 18. The elongatedflat section 24 further includes a first end 28 and a second end 30.Additionally, the step flashing unit 16 includes a vertical surface 32and a horizontal surface 44. In this embodiment of the present inventionthe fastening section 18 is located at the first end 28 of the elongatedflat section 24 and the curved section 22 is located at the second end30 of the elongated flat section 24.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the detachableflashing channel 12 including the fastening section 18, the flat section20, the curved section 22 and the elongated flat section 24. Thefastening section 18 further includes plurality of holes 26 forattaching the detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11. Theelongated flat section 24 further includes a first end 28 and a secondend 30. In this embodiment of the present invention the detachableflashing channel 12 is J shaped.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the step flashingunit 16 including the vertical surface 32 and the horizontal surface 34.In this embodiment of the present invention step flashing unit 16 is Lshaped and located at the intersection of the wall 11 and the roof 14.In another embodiment the present invention provides the detachableflashing channel 12 including the fastening section 18, the flat section20, the curved section 22 and the elongated flat section 24. Thefastening section 18 further includes plurality of holes 26 forattaching the detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11. Theelongated flat section 24 further includes a first end 28 and a secondend 30. In this embodiment of the present invention the detachableflashing channel 12 is made of material selected from the group ofAluminium, Copper, Iron, Steel or combination thereof

In another embodiment the present invention provides the system forprotecting walls/roofs from water, including the detachable flashingchannel 12 attached to the wall 11 and the step flashing unit 16 locatedat intersection of the roof 14 and the wall 11. The detachable flashingchannel 12 including the fastening section 18, the flat section 20, thecurved section 22 and the elongated flat section 24. The fasteningsection 18 further includes plurality of holes 26 for attaching thedetachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11. The elongated flatsection 24 further includes a first end 28 and a second end 30. Furtherthe step flashing unit 16 includes a vertical surface 32 and ahorizontal surface 34. In this embodiment of the present invention thevertical surface 32 of the step flashing unit 34 is placed below theelongated flat section 10 and capable of moving freely.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the system forprotecting walls/roofs, including the detachable flashing channel 12attached to the wall 11 and the step flashing unit 16 located atintersection of the roof 14 and the wall 11. The detachable flashingchannel 12 including the fastening section 18, the flat section 20, thecurved section 22 and the elongated flat section 24. The fasteningsection 18 further includes means 36 for attaching the detachableflashing channel 12 to the wall 11. In this embodiment of the presentinvention the means for attaching 36 the detachable flashing channel 12to the wall is selected from the group of nails, screws or combinationthereof.

In one of the most preferred embodiment the present invention providesthe provides the system for protecting walls/roofs from water, includingthe detachable flashing channel 12 made of aluminium, attached to thewall 11 and the step flashing unit 16 located at intersection of theroof 14 and the wall 11. The detachable flashing channel 12 includingthe fastening section 18, the flat section 20, the curved section 22 andthe elongated flat section 24. The fastening section 18 further includesplurality of holes 26 each spaced at the distance of 4.0″ for attachingthe detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11 and the means forattaching 36 the detachable flashing channel 12 to the wall 11 throughthe holes 26 are nails. The elongated flat section 24 further includesthe first end 28 and the second end 30. Further the step flashing unit16 includes a vertical surface 32 and a horizontal surface 34. In thisembodiment of the present invention the fastening section 18 is locatedat the first end 28 of the elongated flat section 24 and the curvedsection 22 is located at the second end 30 of the elongated flat section24. In this embodiment of the present invention the vertical surface 32of the step flashing unit 16 is placed below the elongated flat section24 and capable of moving freely.

While the present invention has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the invention is not limited to theseembodiments. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvementsto the embodiments described above are possible. It is contemplated thatthese variations, modifications, additions and improvements fall withinthe scope of the invention.

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 10. A system forprotecting the intersection of a wall and a roof from water comprising:a flashing channel removably affixed to the wall, said flashing channelhaving a bottom portion and a vertical portion; and a step flashing unitpositioned at the intersection of the wall and the roof, said stepflashing unit having an L-shape with a vertical surface and a horizontalsurface, said horizontal surface of said step flashing unit beingpositioned beneath said bottom portion of said flashing channel, saidvertical surface of said step flashing unit being positioned betweensaid vertical portion of said flashing channel and the wall, saidflashing channel being unattached from said step flashing unit such thatsaid flashing channel can be moved independently of said step flashingunit, said flashing channel being affixed directly to the wall.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein said flashing channel further comprises: atleast one fastening section for attaching said flashing channel to thewall; and a plurality of holes at said fastening section.
 12. The systemof claim 11, further comprising: means for attaching said detachableflashing channel to the wall.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein meansfor attaching said detachable flashing channel to the wall is selectedfrom the group of consisting of nails, screws or a combination thereof.14. The system of claim 10, wherein said flashing channel is made ofmaterial selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, iron,steel or a combination thereof.
 15. The system of claim 10, saidflashing channel having a J-shape.